♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO THE TENTH IN A SERIES OF POLITICAL CANDIDATE FORUMS IN ADVANCE OF THE AUGUST 23RD PRIMARY ELECTION.

THIS FORUM A COOPERATIVE VENTURE OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TALLAHASSEE, "THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT" AND WF WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA.

OUR CANDIDATES TODAY ARE RUNNING FOR THE LEON COUNTY JUDGE SEAT 1.

I'M TOM FLANIGAN FROM WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA JOINED BY WILLIAM HATFIELD AND WARILY MONROE FROM THE -- MARCH ARELY MONROE FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE QUESTIONING THE CANDIDATES ON VARIOUS TOPICS.

LET'S GET A QUICK LOOK AT THE GROUND RULES, AND WE'LL BE OFF AND RUNNING RIGHT AFTER WE MEET OUR CANDIDATES.

WILLIAM?

>> THE CANDIDATES FOR LEON COUNTY JUDGE SEAT 1 ARE JASON L. JONES, THE UNINCUMBENT IN -- INCUMBENT IN THIS RACE WHO'S WITH US IN THE STUDIO AND MARIO R. THEODORE WHO'S JOINING US BY ZOOM.

CAN YOU TELL US WHY YOU'RE JOINING BY ZOOM, MR. THEODORE?

>> I'M OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

I HAVE A PSEUDO-FAMILY REUNION OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

>> THAT'S A GOOD REASON.

PLEASE HIT THE SHARE BUTTON AND HELP ALL YOUR FRIENDS SEE TODAY'S DISCUSSION AS WELL.

HERE'S HOW THE FORUM WILL WORK: WE WILL ROTATE WHICH CANDIDATE GETS TO ANSWER FIRST.

WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, SO WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE CANDIDATES TO KEEP YOUR ANSWERS TO ABOUT 60 SECONDS, SOMETIMES SHORTER FOR FOLLOW-UPS.

WE WILL KIND OF GIVE YOU THE TIME FRAME ON EACH ONE.

WE WILL BE KEEPING TIME, AND WE HAVE A VERY HIGH-TECH WAY OF LETTING YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'VE ALLOTTED YOUR TIME.

YOU WILL HEAR A BELL, AND IT WILL SOUND LIKE THIS.

[BACKGROUND SOUNDS] [LAUGHTER] JUST LIKE THAT.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO SOUND LIKE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO A DEAD STOP RIGHT THEN, BUT PLEASE FINISH YOUR SENTENCE, AND WE'LL MOVE ON.

MT.

MIDDLE OF THE FORUM -- IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OR FORUM, WE WILL HAVE A LIGHTNING ROUND WHERE WE ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR ANSWERS TO JUST ONE SENTENCE.

AT THE END OF TERROR RUM, WE'RE GOING TO -- FORUM, AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU 90 SECONDS TO SHARE YOUR WEB SITE OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION.

>> IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON FACEBOOK AND YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CANDIDATES, GO AHEAD AND TYPE THEM IN THE COMMENTS, AND WE'LL GET TO THEM, AS MANY OF THEM AS WE CAN.

TIME IS VERY LIMITED, SO YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF YOUR QUESTIONS BEING ASKED IF YOU KEEP IT BRIEF AND POLITE.

MAKE IT A QUESTION APPLICABLE TO ALL THE CANDIDATES.

CANDIDATES, ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE START?

>> NO, SIR.

>> THEN LET'S JUMP IN WITH THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. MONROE.

YOU KNOW, MANY OF OUR AUDIENCE MEMBERS PERHAPS IF ARE NOT AS FAMILIAR IF WITH JUDICIAL CANDIDATES AS WITH THE OTHER TYPES OF FOLKS WHO ARE UP FOR VOTES.

SO IF WE COULD ASK EACH OF YOU TO GIVE US A LITTLE SYNOPSIS OF YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHAT QUALIFIES YOU FOR THIS OFFICE, AND WE'LL DO EACH OF THOSE RESPONSES IN A MINUTE.

AND, MR. THEODORE, IF WE COULD START WITH YOU, PLEASE, SIR.

>> SURE.

I'VE BEEN A LICENSED ATTORNEY IN FLORIDA SINCE 2007.

HOWEVER, I STARTED OUT AS A CLI, WHICH IS CERTIFIED LEGAL INTERN, IN THE 19TH CIRCUIT PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

I MOVED DOWN TO FLORIDA IN 2006.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM CHICAGO.

PRIOR TO THAT I WAS A LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTY WITH THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

AFTER GRADUATING FROM LAW SCHOOL, I CAME DOWN TO FLORIDA IN 2006.

I HAVE, I DID TWO YEARS WITH THE PUBLIC ATTORNEY -- PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT I HUNG OUT MY OWN SHINGLE, SO TO SPEAK.

I PRACTICED IN CRIMINAL LAW, CIVIL LAW INCLUDING FORECLOSURE WITH DEFENSE, COUNTY COURT CASES, LANDLORD/TEN TENANT CASES, IMMIGRATION.

RIGHT NOW I CONCENTRATE IN FAMILY LAW.

I'VE BEEN ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL WITH THE POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, I'VE DONE ADMINISTRATIVE CASES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS.

I'VE DONE CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, I'VE DONE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

THERE PROBABLY ISN'T MUCH AS FAR AS LEGAL AREAS OF LAW THAT I HAVEN'T, I AT LEAST TRY TO AN EXTENT -- >> OKAY.

MR. THEODORE, WE'VE GOT TO BAIL ON THAT ONE HERE.

WE CAN REVISIT SOME OF THESE PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.

MR. JONES, YOUR BACKGROUND, PLEASE, IN A MINUTE, SIR.

>> YES.

I WANT TO SAY, FIRST, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US TODAY.

MY NAME IS JASON JONES, I AM YOUR LEON COUNTY JUDGE, AND I HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

MY LEAGUE BACKGROUND IS I STARTED AS AN ATTORNEY HERE IN E LEON COUNTY -- LEON COUNTY IN 2004 UPON GRADUATING FROM THE FSU COLLEGE OF LAW.

I BEGAN MY CAREER AS AN ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY.

I HAVE PROSECUTED EVERYTHING FROM TRAFFIC CASES UP TO ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CASES.

I'VE TRIED AN ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CASE HERE LOCALLY IN LEON COUNTY.

AFTER BEING WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR ROUGHLY FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, I WENT TO WORK AS LEGAL ADVISER FOR THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND I DID THAT FOR SIX YEARS UNTIL I WAS PROMOTED TO THEIR GENERAL COUNSEL IN 2015.

FROM 2015-2020 I SERVED AS FDLE'S GENERAL COUNSEL HANDLING EVERYTHING THAT THE AGENCY IS INVOLVED WITH, WHICH IS ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, CONTRACT LAW, COMPLEX CIVIL LITIGATION, EMPLOYMENT LAW.

I ASSISTED IN THE DRAFTING OF LEGISLATION, AND I'VE BEEN YOUR COUNTY JUDGE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS PRESIDING OVER THOUSANDS OF CASES.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

A COUPLE OF FOLLOW-UPS IF WE COULD HERE.

WE WENT THROUGH THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF EACH OF A -- OF YOUR RESUMÉS, BUT LET'S VEER INTO THE PHILOSOPHICAL REALM, IF WE COULD.

STARTING WITH YOU, MR. THEODORE, COULD YOU EXPLAIN YOUR JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY IN PLAIN ENGLISH?

A MINUTE FOR THAT, PLEASE, SIR.

>> MY JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY IS, IN SHORT, TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

MY JOB ISN'T TO -- OR A JUDGE'S JOB, IN MY PLACE MY, IS NOT TO CREATE LAWS.

THAT'S NOT THE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT THAT A JUDGE SITS IN.

THE LAW IS THE LAW.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS DISCRETION TO JUDGES TO MAKE CERTAIN DECISIONS BASED UPON SPECIFIC DETAILS, IN THAT DISCRETION I BELIEVE THAT JUDGES SHOULD HAVE SOME SENSITIVITY, EMPATHY AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT'S IN THE AREA THAT THEY'RE JUDGING OVER, SO TO SPEAK.

SO THAT'S MY ANSWER IN SHORT.

>> OKAY, VERY GOOD.

MR. JONES, YOUR TURN.

>> SO I ALSO BELIEVE THE JUDGES SHOULD FOLLOW THE LAW AS WRITTEN, APPLY IT TO THE FACTS OF THE CASE.

COUNTY COURT OR WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DISCRETION, SO THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO USE OUR EXPERIENCE AND OUR BACKGROUND TO BE COMPASSIONATE WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH INDIVIDUALS, AND AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE DISCRETION THAN THEY DO IN CIRCUIT COURT.

WE SHOULDN'T LET OUR PERSONAL BELIEFS GET IN THE WAY, WE SHOULD JUST FOLLOW THE LAW AS WRITTEN, AND I HAVE A VERY DIVERSE EXPERIENCE BEING A COUNTY JUDGE IN THIS COUNTY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS APPEAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND I HAVE PROVEN TIME AND AGAIN THAT I AM VERY IMPARTIAL AND FOLLOW THE LAW.

>> ALL RIGHT, SIR, A FINAL FOLLOW-UP ON THAT.

WHAT TO YOUR WAY OF THINKING DIFFERENTIATE ISES YOU MOST GREATLY FROM YOUR OPPONENT IN THIS AREAS?

45 SECONDS.

>> -- IN THIS RACE?

>> I DON'T REALLY KNOW MY OPPONENT IN THIS RACE, SO I CAN'T SAY HOW WE DIFFER, BUT I JUST BELIEVE IN FOLLOWING THE LAW, BEING FAIR AND BEING COMPASSIONATE.

>> OKAY, VERY GOOD.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, MR. THEODORE, PLEASE.

>> I AGREE WITH JUDGE JONES.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT AS FAR AS WHAT OUR ANSWERS WERE THAT THERE IS MUCH DIFFERENTIATION IN US BELIEVING THAT THE LAW SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.

AND I DON'T WANT TO -- I HAVE NOTHING ADVERSE TO SAY.

I'M NOT SURE OF HOW OUR THINKING MAY DIFFER.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JUDGE JONES, YOU'LL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO RESPOND TO THIS AS WELL, MR. THEODORE.

MANY YOUR PROFESSIONAL -- IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE HIGH RATE OF INCARCERATION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN OUR COMMUNITY?

>> LACK OF RESOURCES IN THAT COMMUNITY HAVE CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE THAT HAS JUST CAUSED A LOT OF PEOPLE TO TURN TO CRIME AS A WAY AND HELP JUST GET BY.

AND SO I THINK THAT AS FAR AS THE WHAT WE AS A JUDICIARY CAN DO WE'RE PRETTY LIMITED ONCE THE CASE HAS COME BEFORE US.

AT THAT POINT WE CAN JUST FOLLOW THE LAW AND BE FAIR AND TRY AND EXPLAIN TO EVERYONE WHAT IS GOING ON.

BUT WE NEED TO RELY ON OUR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS TO TRY AND HELP CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S NOT IN A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR ENDING UP BEFORE THE COURT.

>> THANK YOU.

MR. THIER DOER?

-- THEODORE?

>> I AGREE WITH JUDGE JONES TO THE EXTENT OF LACK OF RESOURCES IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.

TO EXPOUND ON THAT, I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY SECRET THAT A LOT OF TIMES IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THOSE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE AS MUCH FINANCIAL BACKING OR BUSINESSES OR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ASSIST THOSE COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE.

I DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY SAY IT'S REALLY BASED ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR -- [INAUDIBLE] I'M SORRY?

>> WE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.

>> OH.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT DEALS WITH MONEY AND INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY.

I WAS RAISED IN THE 1970s.

I REMEMBER GROWING UP OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS A COMMUNITY OF COLOR.

I HAD SOURCES SUCH AS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, THE YMCA, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

SO I BELIEVE THAT FOUNDATION HELPS ON -- [INAUDIBLE] JUDGE JONES.

>> THANK YOU, MR. THEODORE.

AS A FOLLOW-UP, JUDGE JONES, DO YOU SEE A RACIAL DISPAIR I IN SENTENCING IN -- DISPARITY IN SENTENCING IN LEON COUNTY?

>> SO I THINK WE DO A GREAT JOB IN LEON COUNTY OF TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND TRYING TO IGNORE THE THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT.

ALL JUDGES IN LEE LEON COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE GO THROUGH IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING.

SO THE FIRST KEY IS TO KNOW THAT IMPLICIT BIAS IS THERE AND TO TRY AND REMOVE THAT FROM THE EQUATION.

I KNOW PERSONALLY MOST CASES ARE RESOLVED THROUGH A PLEA AGREEMENT WHERE THE STATE AND THE DEFENSE HAVE AGREED TO A PLEA.

BUT WHEN I HAVE DISCRETION, I TRY AND NOT USE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE PACTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE USED IN DETERMINING THEM.

>> THANK YOU.

MR. THEODORE, DO YOU SEE A RACIAL DISPARITY IN SENTENCING IN LEON COUNTY?

>> I DON'T KNOW A STATISTIC OF THAT, TO ANSWER IT BEING FULLY INFORMED.

TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IN A GENERAL SENSE, THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME DISPARITY WHEN IT COMES TO, LET'S SAY, LACK OF FEAR TO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CERTAIN WHETHER THEY'RE GOOD SCHOOLS, WHETHER THERE'S BUSINESS INVESTMENT.

SO I BELIEVE THAT GOES HAND IF HAND WITH ANY DISPARITIES THAT MAY BE APPARENT.

>> THANK YOU, MANY THEODORE.

MR. THEODORE.

JUDGE JONES, WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON WHETHER THE COURT AS A WHOLE DEALS EFFECTIVELY WITH RACIAL AND GENDER BIAS IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM?

>> SO I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT I WAS JUST SAYING ABOUT OUR TRAINING.

WE DO A GOOD JOB OF TRYING THE MAKE SURE THAT JUDGES ARE AWARE OF THE IMPLICIT BIAS OF PERCEIVED INEQUITIES AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOES NOT GO INTO MY DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE.

I KNOW I PERSONALLY TREAT EVERYONE FAIRLY THAT THAT COMES BEFORE ME, AND I THINK THAT IS EVIDENCED IN THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT ME WHO MAKE UP ALL DIFFERENT AREAS OF PRACTICE OF LAW AND ALL VARIOUS DIFFERENT RACES BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN FAIR TO EVERYONE WHO APPEARS IN FRONT OF ME.

>> MR. THEODORE?

WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON WHETHER THE COURT AS A WHOLE DEALS EFFECTIVELY WITH RACIAL AND GENDER BIAS IN THE JUDICIAL SPACE?

>> I WILL -- WE'VE HAD A SIMILAR QUESTION BEFORE.

WHAT I'LL STATE IS PEOPLE, I MEAN, WE'RE ALL PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE A JUDGE OR SOMEONE WHO'S VOTING FOR A JUDGE, PEOPLE HAVE BIASES, PERCENTAGES AS MUCH -- PREJUDICES AS MUCH AS YOU TRY TO AMP THEM DOWN.

THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH OF IT ALL.

I I DO BELIEVE THAT GOING TO CLASS AND LEARNING HOW TO IDENTIFY CERTAIN PRESUMPTIONS IN THAT YOU MAY HAVE, IT'S DEFINITELY A HELP.

HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS ANY DISPARITY OR IMPLICIT BIAS IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE LIVED IN DIFFERENT OR IN VARIED DEMOGRAPHICS SO YOU CAN EMERGE YOURSELF IN ANY BIAS WITH THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

>> OKAY.

MR. THEODORE, WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU DRAW ON THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO RELATE TO THE DIVERSE PRICK THAT MIGHT COME BEFORE YOU -- PUBLIC THAT MIGHT COME BEFORE YOU AS A JUDGE?

>> I AM THE PRODUCT OF IMMIGRANTS.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT MY FATHER IS A HAITIAN-AMERICAN.

MY WIFE IS PUERTO RICAN DESCENT.

WE HAVE FAMILIES WHO ARE -- VARIOUS COUNTRIES IN MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

ALSO GROWING UP IN ADDITION TO LIVING IN CHICAGO PROSECUTE YEARS OF 2 AND 7, MY FAMILY AND I LIVED IN MONTREAL, QUEBEC.

ACTUALLY, I STARTED SCHOOL SPEAKING FRENCH ANDED HAD TO REUSE MY ENGLISH, SO TO SPEAK.

I'VE DRAWN ON FRIENDS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

I'VE GROWN UP WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLES.

AND SO THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THAT THAT FOUNDATION HAS ALLOWED ME TO TO AT LEAST BE NON-STATUS QUO, SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITIES I HAVE WITH PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

>> AS A FOLLOW-UP, JUDGE JONES, WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU DRAW ON THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO RELATE TO THE DIVERSE PUBLIC THAT MIGHT COME BEFORE YOU AS A JUDGE?

>> SO I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA, WHICH I THINK IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

ONLY ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL, ONLY ONE HIGH SCHOOL.

GREW UP AROUND A LOT OF DIFFERENT RACES AND NATIONAL TODAY IT IS -- NATIONALITIES.

MY WIFE IS ITALIAN, HER FATHER WAS BORN IN ITALY, SHE'S FIRST GENERATION ITALIAN-AMERICAN.

SO I, TOO, HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED MY ENTIRE LIFE BY A LOT OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, HAVE FRIENDS AND COWORKERS AT DIFFERENT CAN JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN FROM DIFFERENT, VARYING BACKGROUNDS.

AND THEN THE LAST TWO YEARS AS A COUNTY JUDGE I'VE BEEN REALLY ABLE TO SEE ALL OF THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES THAT COME BEFORE ME.

BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR 21 YEARS.

SO I KNOW EXACTLY WITH WHAT THIS COMMUNITY'S MAKEUP IS AND THE CHALLENGES AND THE GOOD THINGS THAT THIS COMMUNITY -- [INAUDIBLE] >> I'VE GOT ONE QUICK FOLLOW-UP I WANT TO TACK ON TO THIS.

WITH THE LATEST CHANGES TO STATE LAW THAT TOUCH ON DIVERSITY TRAINING, WOULD THEY POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING THAT JUDGES RECEIVE?

30 SECONDS ON THAT, AND WE WILL START WITH YOU, JASON JONES.

>> SO I THINK THAT THE DIVERSITY TRAINING AND THE IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING THAT WE CURRENTLY GET IS VERY THOROUGH.

IT'S DAYS LONG.

I DON'T KNOW HOW NEW TRAINING THAT IS GOING INTO EFFECT WILL AFFECT THAT, BUT SO FAR I KNOW WHAT WE HAVE HAS BEEN VERY THOROUGH AND VERY EFFECTIVE.

>> MARIO THEODORE, SAME QUESTION.

>> AS I KIND OF TOUCHED ON IN MY PREVIOUS ANSWER, I BELIEVE THAT ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAINING -- TRAINING IN AND OF ITSELF ISN'T GOING TO MAGIC WAND ANY SORT OF BIAS AWAY.

IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SO ANY IMPROVEMENT IS BETTER.

I THINK THE IMPROVEMENT NEEDS AN IMPROVEMENT.

BUT ANY STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IS A GOOD DIRECTION TO STEP IN.

IF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE TOPIC HERE A LITTLE BIT.

MARIO THEODORE, TELL US ABOUT AN INSTANCE IN WHICH YOU FACED AN ETHICAL DILEMMA AND HOW YOU RESOLVED IT.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, AND I'M LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC INSTANCE IN WHICH YOU FACED AN ETHICAL DILEMMA AND HOW YOU RESOLVED IT.

>> ETHICAL DILEMMA.

WOW.

AS BEING AN TORN?

IS THAT THE SPECIFIC QUESTION -- AN ATTORNEY IN.

>> >> YOU ARE SURE, IT COULD BE AN ATTORNEY OR IT COULD BE LIFE.

EITHER'S GOING TO SHOW YOUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

>> OKAY.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF AN ETHICAL THEM MASSACHUSETTS AS -- DEM MA.

-- DILEMMA.

AS A FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, YOU MAY BE IN INSTANCES WHERE WITH COLLEAGUES MAY BE DOING SOMETHING THAT ETHICALLY YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T IDENTIFY, EMPATHIZE OR AGREE WITH.

AND THAT BEING SAID, DRAWING ON SEEING THERE'S AN INCIDENCE WITHOUT GOING FURTHER INTO IT, IT WAS EITHER, A, BELIEVE WHAT I BELIEVE -- DO WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE RIGHT THING OR, B, DO THE STATUS QUO TO BE A PART OF THE GROUP.

AND I CHOSE THE FORMER.

I DID THE RIGHT THING.

I DID WHAT WAS TRUE TO MY VALUES.

I MOVED IN THAT DIRECTION AS TO OPPOSED TO WANTING TO BE ACCEPTED IN PART OF A GROUP.

>> THANK YOU.

JASON JONES, SAME QUESTION.

>> SO, I MEAN, I I THINK THE EASIEST ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS DO THE RIGHT THING.

AS AN ATTORNEY, OF COURSE, YOU'RE FACED A LOT OF TIMES WITH DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU COULD CHOOSE TO SWEEP UNDER THE RUG IN ORDER TO HELP YOUR CASE OR REPORT TO THE OTHER SIDE.

AS A PROSECUTOR, THAT COMES UP ALL THE TIME, EVIDENCE THAT WASN'T SUBMITTED ON TIME OR EVIDENCE THAT IS EXCULPATORY TO THE DEFENDANT.

IN EVERY INSTANCE IT WASN'T REALLY A DILEMMA, IT WAS A DECISION OF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AT FDLE, WE ALWAYS HAD THE CAPITOL STEPS TEST, AND THAT WAS IF YOU COULD STAND ON THE CAPITOL STEPS AND JUSTIFY YOUR DECISION TO THE PUBLIC, THEN IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.

BUT IF YOU COULDN'T DO THAT, MAYBE WHAT YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT DOING WAS NOT THE RIGHT THING.

IT JUST ALL BOILS TO DOING THE RIGHT THING.

>> THANK YOU.

JASON JONES, A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE ROLE OF GOD OR YOUR FAITH, IF ANY, IN YOUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS?

YOU HAVE 45 SECONDS TO RESPOND.

>> SO MY BELIEF IN GOD SHOULD NOT AFFECT MY DECISIONS.

EVERY MORNING I DO PRAY FOR GOD TO GIVE ME WISDOM AND PATIENCE, BUT THAT IS WHERE IT ENDS.

WHEN I PUT ON THE ROBE AND I TAKE THE BENCH, MY DECISIONS ARE BASED UPON LAW AND WHAT THE LAW SAYS AND WHAT THE FACTS OF THE CASE ARE.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS.

YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS IN ANY MATTER SHOULD NOT AFFECT YOUR ABILITY OR DECISION AS A JUDGE.

>> THANK YOU.

MARIO THEE DEER, SAME QUESTION -- THEODORE.

>> I AGREE TO AN EXTENT WITH JUDGE JONES.

I DON'T BELIEVE RELIGION IN AND OF ITSELF SHOULD PLAY A PART IN THE SPECIFIC DECISIONS THAT A JUDGE MAY MAKE.

ESPECIALLY IF BEING FAIR OR TO PEOPLE OF, LET'S SAY, DIFFERENT FAITHS OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY BELIEVE IN A HIGHER POWER.

SO THAT THAT SHOULDN'T WEIGH MANY ON ANYTHING.

HOWEVER, AS -- IN ON ANYTHING.

HOWEVER, AS A FOUNDATION OF WHO MARIO THEODORE IS, DEFINITELY FAITH HAS HELPED ME LET'S SAY GROW AND BE MORE EVERYONE NET EMPATHETIC -- EMPATHETIC AND MORE TOLERANT OF OTHERS AND DEFINITELY JUST HELP ME AS A BETTER HUMAN BEING AND IF I'M A BETTER HUMAN BEING, OBVIOUSLY, I CAN BE A BETTER RESOURCE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO ME TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATE DECISION.

>> WE HAVE A THREE-PARTER COMING UP FOR EACH OF YOU HERE.

NUMBER ONE, HOW DO YOU DEFINE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

SECOND, WOULD YOU IMPLEMENT THIS CONCEPT IN CRIMINAL CASES.

AND, THIRD, PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR WITH ANSWER, AND YOU HAVE A FULL 45 SECONDS IN WHICH TO DO THAT.

AND MARIO THEODORE, IF WE COULD START WITH YOU, PLEASE, SIR.

>> CERTAINLY, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE NEEDS -- TO AN EXTENT THE, I'M NOT SURE, WHAT I'M UNCLEAR ON IS WHETHER RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MEANS IN A CRIMINAL SENSE RESTORING OR MAKING SO-CALLED STATE OR VICTIM WHOLE AS OPPOSEDDED TO, LET'S SAY, A REHABILITATIVE SENSE.

THAT'S WHERE I'M UNCLEAR ON WHAT THAT PHRASE MEANS.

HOWEVER, IF IT MEANS THE FORMER, THEN MY VIEWPOINT IS DEFINITELY THAT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE DEALS WITH RESTORING A VICTIM OF THE STATE, IT SHOULD BE.

I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S HAND IN HAND, DECISIONS SHOULD BE BASED ON RESTORING THE BALANCE OF WHAT WAS IMBALANCED.

TWO, SECONDLY, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM A REHABILITATIVE STANDPOINT, IF THAT IS APPROPRIATE LET'S SAY, THEN, THAT THAT SAID, I BELIEVE IN THAT ALSO.

I BELIEVE THAT ALL HUMANS ARE FALL IF BL, AND SO THAT BEING SAID IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK PEOPLE MAKE CHOICES AND DECISIONS THAT 20 YEARS LATER MAY NOT BE THE SAME PERSON OR CHOICES THEY WOULD MAKE.

SO ANYTIME THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IN THE CRIMINAL SENSE IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, THEN I'M DEFINITELY FOR THAT AS WELL.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

JASON JONES, YOUR TURN ON THAT ONE.

>> E SO ARE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IS THE REHABILITATION OF AN OFFENDER WITH RECONCILIATION WITH THE VICTIM AND THE VICTIM'S FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY.

ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS AND CLASSMATES FROM LAW SCHOOL IS VERY BIG INTO RESORETIVE JUSTICE IN LEON COUNTY, THOUGH I AM ALWAYS OPEN IF BOTH PARTIES ARE OPEN TO ENTERING INTO THE PROCESS.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FORCED ON TO VICTIMS, SO YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE THE VICTIMS WILLING TO PARTICIPATE.

BUT IF BOTH PARTIES ARE WANTING TO PARTICIPATE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM A BIG PROPONENT OF AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP FACILITATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, SIR.

WHILE WE'RE WITH YOU HERE IN THE REALM OF DEFINITIONS AGAIN, JUDICIAL ACTIVISM, HOW DO YOU PERSONALLY TWINE THAT?

>> -- DEFINE THAT?

>> AS A JUDGE INPUTTING THEIR OWN PERSONAL BELIEFS INTO THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE TO FOLLOW THE LAW OR NOT.

IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT OUR ROLE IS NOT TO CREATE LAW, AND EVEN IF WE DON'T AGREE WITH THE LAW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS FOLLOWED AND THAT WE INTERPRET THE LAW AS IT'S WRITTEN.

SO JUDICIAL ACTIVISM WOULD BE IN PUTTING YOUR OWN PERSONAL BELIEFS INTO YOUR DECISION THE OF WHETHER TO FOLLOW A LAW OR NOT.

>> OKAY.

MARIO THEODORE CAN, YOUR DEFINITION OF JUDICIAL ACTIVISM, PLEASE, SIR.

>> AGAIN, I AGREE TO AN EXTENT WHERE, AS I STATED IN A PREVIOUS ANSWER, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT JUDGES ARE IN THAT BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT TO MAKE LAWS.

HOWEVER, AND AS I SEE A JUDICIAL ACTIVIST, THAT'S A JUDGE WHO'S BREACHING ON A BRANCH THAT THEY AREN'T PART OF.

HOWEVER, IN THE -- WHEN DISCRETION IS ALLOWED, THEN OBVIOUSLY TO IMPART SOME WORLD KNOWLEDGE, IMPART SOME PERSONAL VIEWPOINT IF THE DISCRETION IS ALLOWED, THEN IT'S POSSIBLE WHERE THAT MAY BE A PLUS.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO PRESENT, I GUESS, AN IMBALANCED ANSWER.

AT ITS BASE, ACTIVISM IS BREACHING INTO A BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT THAT YOU AREN'T PART OF.

>> QUESTION MEN -- GENTLEMEN, I GUESS OUR NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, IF ANY, WOULD YOU SUGGEST TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM IN THE JEWISH ADDITIONAL SYSTEM?

TO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM?

>> JUDGE JONES, YOU GET THE FIRST SHOT AT THAT.

>> IS IN LEON COUNTY, I THINK WE COA PRETTY GOOD JOB IS OF HAVING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR DIVISION, WHICH THOSE ARE IMPLEMENTED BY THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR THROUGH LEGISLATION.

BUT WE ALSO DO A GREAT JOB IN LEON COUNTY OF DIFFERENT TREATMENT COURTS.

I MYSELF AM THE JUDGE FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT IN LEON COUNTY.

AND THE GOAL OF THAT COURT IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO EITHER SANCTIONS OR INCARCERATIONS.

WE GET INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WHO OUR GOAL IS TO TRY AND STABILIZE, GET THEM BACK ON THEIR MEDICATIONS AND THEN ULTIMATELY DISMISS THEIR CASE.

THERE'S SIMILAR SYSTEMS FOR OUR DRUG COURT AND OUR VETERANS COURT.

I THINK ANY SYSTEM THAT WE CAN HAVE IS TO TRY TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF INCARCERATION WITH THE LARGER GOAL OF REDUCING RECIDIVISM IS A GOOD GOAL.

AND I'M OPEN TO ANY SUGGESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR WAYS TO DO THAT THAT WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY DOING THAT.

SO I THINK THAT WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF IT.

>> MR. THEODORE, WOULD YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO THE QUESTION?

>> YES, SIR.

AS FAR AS LET YES -- LET ME JUST ADDRESS, AGAIN, I BELIEVE JUDGE JONES HIT ON SOME GOOD POINTS.

I PERSONALLY USED TO BE THE ATTORNEY, THE 19TH'S CIRCUIT REPRESENTATIVE IN DIVERSION COURT WHICH INCLUDES MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG THE COURT.

THOSE COURTS DO WORK.

I'VEED HAD CLIENTS GO INTO THE VETERANS COURT AS WELL WHICH IS A COOPERATION COURT FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE SERVED IN ARMED FORCES.

I DO BELIEVE HOSE ARE DEFINITELY GOOD -- THOSE ARE DEFINITELY GOOD PROGRAMS.

HOWEVER, IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

IT GOES BACK TO, AGAIN, WHAT I BELIEVE MAY BE AN ASSISTANCE WHERE THERE ARE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY.

MAYBE NOT ENOUGH SOMETIMES IN WAITING UNTIL YOU GET TO COURT AND, REMEMBER, IN DIVERSION COURT THAT DEPENDS ON IF THERE'S AN AGREEMENT FROM THE STATE THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL GETS CLOUGHED INTO THE DIVERSION COURT.

SO THERE ARE DEFINITELY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK, THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON -- >> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

MARIO THEODORE, WHEN LAST WE CHECKED, YOU RESIDE AND ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN GADSDEN COUNTY WHICH MEANS YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION, IN LEON COUNTY, WHICH YOU'RE COMPETING IN.

UNDER STATE LAW, IF YOU'RE ELECTED, YOU MUST MOVE TO LEON COUNTY.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS, IF ELECTED, AND SHOULD RESIDENCY BE AN ISSUE IN CAMPAIGN?

45 SECONDS.

>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS MY PLANS ARE TO FOLLOW THE RULE.

YOU HAVE UNTIL THE PARIS TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST -- FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IF YOU ARE ELECTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO COME BACK INTO THE COUNTY PROPER.

AS I'VE STATED IN OTHER FORUMS, AS I'VE STATED TO JEFF FUR LOWE WHO SPOKE TO ME THIS MORNING, THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

I KNEW THAT WHEN THE LANGUAGE WAS STATED TO BE IN LEON COUNTY ONCE YOU GOT ELECTED.

MY OFFICE IS MAINTAINED IN LEON COUNTY, MY WIFE DOSE TO SCHOOL IN LEON COUNTY -- GOES TO SCHOOL.

MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN LEON COUNTY.

MOST OF MY CLIENTS ARE IN -- THE BULK OF MY CLIENTS ARE FROM LEON COUNTY.

MY LITTLE BROTHER FROM BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS IS IN LEON COUNTY.

SO THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

SO THAT'S WHAT MY PLANS ARE.

IF THERE'S THE RULE FROM THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS STATE THAT, MARIO, IF YOU'RE ELECTED, YOU HAVE TO BE BACK WITH BY THE FIRST TUESDAY OR FIRST MONDAY, HEN THOSE PLANS ARE ALREADY IN THE WORKS.

WE OWN PROPERTY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND AND I DON'T SEE -- >> THANK YOU.

>> -- LEON COUNTY WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT.

>> JUDGE JONES, DO YOU BELIEVE RESIDENCY IS AN ISSUE IN THIS CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK IF YOU'RE ASKING THE PEOPLE OF LEON COUNTY TO VOTE FOR YOU AND YOU'RE CLAIMING THAT YOU WANT TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF LEON COUNTY, THAT YOU SHOULD WITH A LESS -- BE A RESIDENT OF LEON COUNTY.

I HAVE RESIDED IN LEON COUNTY FOR 21 YEARS.

I'VE PRACTICED MY ENTIRE CAREER HERE.

I'VE DEDICATED MY ENTIRE CAREER TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND SERVING THE PEOPLE OF LEON COUNTY.

AND I THINK THAT YOU SHOULDN'T JUST BE WILLING TO MOVE TO LEON COUNTY IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THE ELECTION.

I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE, WHICH I AM.

>> THANK YOU.

JUDGE JONES, WHEN LAST WE CHECKED, YOUR CAMPAIGN HAS RAISED NEARLY $71 1,000 IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS -- 71,000.

THAT'S ABOUT SEVEN TIMES THE AMOUNT MR. THEODORE HAS REPORTED RAISING.

YOU BOTH HAVE COMMITTEES SOLICITING DONATIONS.

WHAT SHOULD VOTERS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR CAMPAIGN FUNDING?

JUDGE JONES.

45 SECONDS.

>> SO I WOULD INVITE VOTERS TO GO AND LOOK AT THE DONOR LISTS FOR BOTH MYSELF AND MY OPPONENT, AND WHAT YOU WILL MOTES FROM MY -- NOTICE FROM MY SUPPORTERS IS THAT THEY ARE FROM LEON COUNTY.

AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE ATTORNEYS IN TOWN, AND THE ATTORNEYS HALF APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME -- THAT HAVE APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME.

THEY A MAKE UP A DIVERSE GROUP OF PROSECUTORS, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW ATTORNEYS, FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS.

YOU MAIM IT, THEY'VE DONATED TO MY CAMPAIGN.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT I AM A GOOD JUDGE, THAT I AM FAIR AND I FOLLOW THE LAW.

THEY HAVE TWO YEARS' WORTH OF KNOWLEDGE TO SHOW THAT.

AND A LOT OF THESE FOLKS WERE PEOPLE I PRACTICED WITH WHEN I WAS A PROSECUTOR THAT APPEAR OPPOSITE ME.

SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO I WENT TO BATTLE WITH EVERY DAY WHO WENT TO MY -- WHO DONATED TO MAY MY CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THEY KNOW I'M FAIR.

>> MARIO THEODORE, SAME QUESTION.

>> LET ME STATE THIS: I'M NOT THE STATUS QUO BY ANY STRETCH.

IF IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE MONETARY BACKING OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

IF IT'S IMPORTANT, IT WEIGHS IN ON MY IMPARTIALITY OR MY ABILITIES TO BE A GOOD AND FAIR JUDGE OR A GOOD ATTORNEY, DEM GRAPHICICALLY IF I LIVE 10 MILES OUT -- DEMOGRAPHICALLY IF I LIVE 10 MILES OUTSIDE THE BORDER OF LEON COUNTY, THAT'S IMPORTANT -- [INAUDIBLE] HOWEVER, AGAIN, I'M NOT THE STATUS QUO.

I BECAME A LAWYER TO HELP PEOPLE, NOT NECESSARILY BE A PART OF THE CLUB OF ATTORNEYS, SO TO SPEAK, ALTHOUGH I AM AN ATTORNEY.

YOU CAN SEE THAT ON OUR WEB SITE.

I'M NOT THE STATUS QUO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, FOLKS.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN CASES WHERE JUDGES OR JUDICIAL CANDIDATES HAVE KIND OF GOTTEN MANY TROUBLE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA STATEMENTS EITHER IN THE PRESENT OR IN THE PAST.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK SHOULD SOCIAL MEDIA PLAY FOR A JUDGE, AND ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, DO YOU MAINTAIN SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS?

AND, JASON JONES, IF WE COULD START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

>> SURE.

SO, OF COURSE, FOR A CAMPAIGN SOCIAL MEDIA IS IMPORTANT TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT TO THE VOTERS.

I DO CAN MAINTAIN A PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT.

I REMEMBER ONE OF THE FIRST HINGES THAT I DID UPON BECOMING -- THINGS THAT I DID UPON BECOMING A JUDGE WAS I WENT AND DEFRIENDED ALL ATTORNEYS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANY APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY OF PEOPLE THAT COULD APPEAR IN FRONT OF ME ALSO BEING FRIENDS WITH ME ON FACEBOOK.

I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT YOU POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IT'S A REFLECTION OF WHO YOU ARE.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF PICTURES OF FAMILIES, MY FAMILY ON VACATION, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

I, OF COURSE, HAVE A TWITTER ACCOUNT, I HAVE AN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT, BUT IT'S ALL THINGS THAT ARE NOW REALLY GEARED TOWARDS JUST HELPING GET THE WORD OUT FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

MARIO THEODORE, YOUR TURN, SIR.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA AS FAR AS BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AN ENTREPRENEUR, SOCIAL MEDIA IS NECESSARY IN THIS DAY AND AGE FOR MARKETING.

SO IN THAT VEIN, OUR OFFICE HAS HAD SOCIAL MEDIA.

PERSONALLY, I HAVEN'T UP UNTIL, AGAIN WITH, WE'RE RUNNING FOR THIS SEAT.

AGAIN, I MAINTAIN SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE OFFICE.

BUT PERSONALLY, NOT SO MUCH.

THERE IS AN OLD FACEBOOK ACCOUNT THAT I'VE MAINTAINED ALTHOUGH RARELY POST TO IT.

BUT THERE HAS BEEN MORE, I GUESS, ACTIVITY AND DEFINITELY MARKETING FOR THE FIRM.

IS IT IMPORTANT FOR A JUDGE TO HAVE?

MY THOUGHTS ON THAT, PROBABLY NOT.

LIKE JUDGE JONES SAID, HE'S JUST POSTING FAMILY PICTURES AND SUCH.

I THINK THAT'S FINE, BUT THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN WHAT YOU SHOULD DO AND WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T AS FAR AS SOCIAL MEDIA IS CONCERNED.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP -- CHANGE UP THE SPEED A LITTLE BIT, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR LIGHTNING ROUND.

MOST OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE EITHER KIND OF YES OR NO OR SIMPLE ANSWER QUESTIONS.

USUALLY I'M LOOKING FOR THAT YES OR NO AND THEN A SENTENCE OF EXPLANATION.

YOU, OF COURSE, CAN USE AN AND OR BECAUSE, BUT WE TRY TO AVOID LONG, LONG RUN-ONS.

NOBODY LIKES THOSE.

MARIO THEODORE, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU.

ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A MEMBER OF THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY WHICH DESCRIBES ITSELF AS A GROUP OF CONSERVATIVES AND LIB LIBERTARIANS?

MARIO THEODORE.

>> NO.

>> WHY OR WHY NOT?

>> THE WHY NOT IS JUST THAT IT WAS NOT -- JUST NOT, I GUESS, SOMETHING I WAS WILLING TO JOIN OR BE A MEMBER.

>> OKAY.

JASON JONES?

>> YES, I DID JOIN THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY WHEN I WAS SEEKING APPOINTMENT TO THE BENCH AT THE SUGGESTION OF A COUPLE PEOPLE.

>> OKAY.

WHO IS YOUR TOP JUDICIAL ROLE MODEL AND WHY?

JASON JONES.

>> SO MY -- PROBABLY IF I WOULD GO LOCALLY, I WOULD HAVE TO USE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT JUDGES.

JUDGE TERRY LEWIS, WHO IS ONE OF THE RETIRED JUDGES WHO ENDORSES ME, WAS SOMEONE WHO I ALWAYS LIKED HIS DEMEANOR ON THE BENCH.

JUDGE HEN KINISON WHO RECENTLY RETIRED IS SOMEONE I LOOKED UP TO BECAUSE HE WAS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PERSON THAT MADE YOU FOLLOW THE RULES AND MADE SURE YOU WERE ON YOUR TOES.

>> THANK YOU.

MARIO THEODORE, SAME QUESTION.

>> I'VE NEVER HAD THAT QUESTION, BUT IF I WAS GOING TO SEEK OUT A ROLE MODEL, IT WOULD BE THURGOOD MARSHALL BECAUSE THE FIRST BLACK SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, DEFINITELY HIS WORK WITH THE NAACP.

AND JUST WHAT HE'S DONE FOR THE PEOPLE OF COLOR, OUR COMMUNITY -- >> THANK YOU.

YOU ANTICIPATED MY NEXT QUESTION, MARIO THEODORE.

WHAT U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE PAST OR PRESENT DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?

>> MY ANSWER HASN'T CHANGED.

I MOST ADMIRE THURGOOD MARSHALL JUST BY BEING A TRAILBLAZER MANY HIS ATTITUDE THE ABOUT -- LES A QUOTE OF THURGOOD MARSHALL'S THAT IT STANDS FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING.

I THINK QUESTION WAS ASKED FOLLOWING THE LAW OR DOING THE RIGHT THING, AND HE SAYS ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> ALL RIGHT.

JASON JONES, SAME QUESTION.

>> SO WE'LL GO BACK A LITTLE BIT IN HISTORY.

ONE THAT I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED WAS JAMES WILSON.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

HE'S ONE OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS, AND HE'S ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO SIGNED BOTH THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE CONSTITUTION.

>> THANK YOU.

JASON JONES, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CAMERAS, STILLS OR VIDEO MT.

ROOM?

-- COURTROOM?

>> WE CURRENTLY ALLOW IT.

I THINK IF THERE WERE A BIG CASE WHERE YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE MULTIPLE CRAMS, I'D TRY TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT WHERE THERE WOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD POOL WOULD USE JUST FOR A LACK OF CHAOS.

BUT I'M FOR CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM.

>> MARIO THEODORE.

>> I AM FOR CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM.

WE LIVE IN THE SUNSHINE.

I'M ALL FOR THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

THE QUESTION -- WE SOLICIT QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE QUESTION I'M MOST ASKED TO ASK THE CANDIDATES HAS BECOME A LITMUS TEST FOR MANY VOTERS AND SPEAKS TO OUR DEMOCRACY AT LARGE.

DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE OUTCOME OF THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

MARIO THEODORE.

>> THAT QUESTION BE CLARIFIED?

IF CONFIDENCE AS FAR AS WHAT?

>> IN THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

JASON JONES?

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JASON JONES, DO YOU BELIEVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> YES.

>> MARCO THEODORE -- THE MARIO THEE THEODORE?

>> YES.

>> WHICH FLORIDA COURT DECISION IN ANY FLORIDA COURT OR DO YOU THINK HAS HAD THE MOST IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF FLORIDIANS?

MARIO THEODORE.

>> BUSH V. GORE.

>> OKAY.

JASON JONES.

>> ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS GIDEON V. WAINWRIGHT, THE CASE THAT CREATED THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE THAT'S PROBABLY HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON FLORIDIANS AND THE COUNTRY.

>> OKAY.

JASON JONES, OUTSIDE YOUR LEGAL CAREER, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE YOUR BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN?

>> SO THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE THOSE ARE KIND OF INTERTWINED.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT.

I NEVER WENT INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE AND SOUGHT TO IMPROVE MY FINANCIAL STATUS, SO I'VE CONSTANTLY SERVED THE COMMUNITY AS AN ATTORNEY OR AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH FDLE AND AND ALSO JUST THROUGH MY FAMILY.

>> THANK YOU.

MARIO THEE YORE, SAME QUESTION.

>> COW -- COULD YOU RE-ASK THE QUESTION?

>> OUTSIDE I YOUR LEGAL CAREER, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN?

>> MY BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION HAS BEEN, TO THIS COMMUNITY, HAS BEEN JUST BEING A MENTOR TO MY LITTLE BROTHER WITH THE BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS.

DEFINITELY OUTSIDE THE LEGAL REALM.

LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS NOT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

JUST THE THINGS I'M DOING, THE PRO BONO WORK I'VE BEEN DOING.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

AND LASTLY, NAME THREE PERSONAL TRAITS THAT DESCRIBE THE KNOWLEDGE AND DISPOSITION YOU WOULD BRING TO THE COURT.

I'M JUST LOOKING FOR ALMOST THREE WORDS.

THREE PERSONAL TRAITS THAT DESCRIBE THE KNOWLEDGE AND DISPOSITION YOU WOULD BRING TO THE COURT.

MARIO THEODORE.

>> EMPATHY, TWRSTY -- DIVERSITY, DENASTY.

>> THANK YOU.

JASON JONES.

>> PAIRNESS, COMPASSION AND PATIENCE.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU GUYS MADE IT THROUGH THE LIGHTNING ROUNDFUL WELL DONE.

>> VERY GOOD.

LET'S SEE, I THINK WE ARE GOING OVER TO TO MR. MONROE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. FLANAGAN.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE GREATEST CLS -- OBSTACLES TO JUS THINKS OUR -- TO JUSTICE IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM?

45 SECS.

>> MONEY.

THE HACK OF MONEY IS, I THINK -- THE LACK OF MONEY IS, I THINK, WHAT CREATES THE MOST INEQUITY.

PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO HIRE THE ATTORNEY THEY WANT, AND THAT'S NOT ONLY IN THE CRIMINAL REALM WHICH WE SEE JUST A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE THAT IS EXTREMELY OVERWORKED BECAUSE OF LACK OF RESOURCES AND HACK OF RESOURCES FROM PEOPLE THAT NEED TO HAVE THEIR SERVICES.

BUT I SEE IT ALSO IN THE CIVIL SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE HOSS OF PRO PRO SE DEFENDANTS WHO NO NOT KNOW -- WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

IT'S VERY US FROM STRAITING FINISH FRUSTRATING TO SEE SOMEONE NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR CASE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF RESOURCES AND A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MR. THEODORE, PLEASE.

COULD YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION?

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE GREATEST OBSTACLES TO JUSTICE IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM?

>> NO, IT'S NOT THE GREATEST, BUT A LARGE OBSTACLE IS THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

I HAPPEN TO HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO BELIEVE THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS UNFAIR AND IT'S UNEVEN.

SO I BELIEVE OBSTACLE IS TO EDIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE PROCESS AND WHY IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A BIT OF INEQUITY BETWEEN CERTAIN DECISIONS.

I BELIEVE THAT'S THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE.

>> GENTLEMEN, THE JUDICIARY A APPEARS AT TIMES TO BE POLITICIZED.

SOME JUDGES HAVE EVEN ALIGNED THEMSELVES PRETTY PUBLICLY WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVOCATE ONE SCHOOL OF POLITICAL THOUGHT OVER ANOTHER.

DO YOU AFFILIATE WITH ONE OR MORE ORGANIZATIONS WITH CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL PHILOSOPHY, AND IF SO, WHICH ONES?

AND HOW WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THOSE ASSOCIATIONS WHILE ALSO UPHOLDING THE INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY?

AGAIN, A BIG, INVOLVEDDED QUESTION, BUT SEE IF WE CAN BOIL IT DOWN TO ONE MINUTE.

AND, WILL MR. THEODORE, YOU -- MR. THEODORE, YOU FIRST, PLEASE.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE I AM.

HOWEVER, I AM A MEMBER OF THE NAACP, ALTHOUGH NOT A LARGE PARTICIPANT.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION, SO I'M NOT SURE IF BEING A MEMBER OF THOSE ASSIGNS MYSELF TO EITHER WAY OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGY.

BUT I CONOT BELIEVE OUTSIDE OF -- DO NOT BELIEVE OUTSIDE OF THOSE THAT I AM DEFINITELY NOT AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN EITHER CAMP, SO TO SPEAK.

>> OKAY.

MR. JONES.

>> YEAH, I'M NOT AN ACTIVE APARTMENT IN ANY -- PARTICIPANT IN ANY ORGANIZE THAT THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF TAKES PARTICULAR VIEWPOINTS OR ADVOCATES FOR ONE POLITICAL PARTY OR ONE POLITICAL VIEW.

AS A JUDGE, YOU HAVE TO BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL.

IF YOU HAVE PERSONAL VIEWS CHELIN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER -- THAT LEAN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THAT'S YOUR PERSONAL CHOICE.

BUT ONCE YOU ACCEPT ON THE BENCH AND PUT ON THE ROBE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR BELIEFS ARE ON ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE, IT'S JUST WHAT THE LAW IS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'VE BEEN ASKING ALL THE QUESTIONS, SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.

WHAT'S ONE QUESTION YOU'D LIKE TO ASK YOUR OPPONENT, AND YOUR OPPONENT WILL HAVE A MINUTE TO RESPOND.

JUDGE JONES, YOU CAN START US OUT.

>> THERE WERE SEVERAL -- SEVERAL JUDGES HARP UP FOR RETENTION OR -- THAT WERE UP FOR RETENTION OR RE-ELECTION THIS CYCLE.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ME?

>> IT WASN'T SO MUCH OF A CHOICE OF YOU.

THERE WERE TWO, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY.

THERE WERE TWO SEATS UP, AND YOU HAPPENED TO BE SEAT NUMBER 1.

AS I TOLD YOU PERSONALLY, THIS WAS NOTHING PERSONAL, THERE WAS NOTHING AGAINST YOU.

WE'VE NEVER MET EACH OTHER PRIOR TO GOING THROUGH THIS.

SURE, THEN AND NOW IT WAS NOTHING PERSONAL, NEVER HAS BEEN.

IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT YOU WERE ONE OF THE TWO, AND YOU HA.

[INAUDIBLE] >> MARIO THEODORE, WHAT'S A QUESTION YOU'D LIKE TO ASK JUDGE JONES?

>> WELL, JUDGE, HOW CAN YOU ASSURE THE COMMUNITY, I KNOW PERCENT LAST TWO YEARS YOU'VE STATE -- FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS YOU'VE STATED YOU'VE BEEN FAIR AND IMPARTIAL.

HOW CAN YOU ASSURE THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST A BLACK MAN, THAT IT WOULD STILL BE CONSISTENT AFTER THIS?

>> TO SO NOT JUST THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I HAVE BEEN AN ATTORNEY FOR 18 YEARS.

I PRACTICED LAW FOR 18 YEARS, AND THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE CAREER I'VE SHOWN THAT THAT I CAN BE PAIR TO ALL PEOPLE.

AND HAS EVIDENCED BY SOME OF THE ENDORSEMENTS I'VE RECENTLY RECEIVED LIKE BEN CRUMP WHO ENDORSES ME FOR THIS RACE.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE WERE WORRIED WHETHER THERE WAS ANY DOUBT WITH WHETHER I COULD BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TO ALL PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE I AM WHITE, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY WOULD ENDORSE ME AND PUT THEIR NAME BEHIND.

SO I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT MY ENDORSEMENTS AND ASK PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME, AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A FLUKE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THAT MY ENTIRE CAREER I'VE BEEN FAIR AND IMPARTIAL AND AND TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

Y'ALL MADE IT TO THE CONCLUSION PART OF OUR SHOW WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE THE CASE DIRECTLY TO VOTERS.

MARIO THEODORE, YOU'RE GOING TO START.

YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS TO TALK DIRECTLY TO VOTERS.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO SHARE YOUR WEB SITE AS WELL IF YOU LIKE, AND YOU GET TO START US OUT.

>> OKAY.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE WEB SITE IS THEODORE 4 JUDGE 2022.COM.

YOU CAN ALSO LOOK AT OUR FIRM'S WEB SITE, PAIR PRICE LEGAL.ORG -- FAIR PRICE LEGAL.ORG.

I GIVE YOU THOSE WEB SITE SITES BECAUSE AT LOT OF INFORMATION IS WORN ON MY SLEEVE ABOUT ME.

JUDGE JONES ASKED ME ABOUT SOMETHING THIS -- ENTERING RACE AND WHY I CHOSE HIM AND, AS YOU HEARD, I DID NOT CHOOSE HIM.

THERE JUST HAPPENED TO BE TWO SEATS.

LATELY THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT GADSDEN COUNTY OR WHERE I RESIDE.

AGAIN, I BECAME AN ATTORNEY NOT FOR STATUS, NOT TO BE AN ELITIST.

PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME, PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASKED ME THERE'S DEFINITELY A STORY BEHIND BECOMING AN ATTORNEY.

I WENT TO SCHOOL TO BE A JOURNALISTS AFTER LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THAT'S WHAT I INTENDED TO DO.

I BECAME A LAWYER TO HELP.

IF NOT FOR MONEY -- NOT FOR MONEY, NOT FOR STATUS.

THE JUDGESHIP, AGAIN, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH AN ATTORNEY IN LEON COUNTY.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT CONVERSATION, I BELIEVE THAT AS A RESULT THERE WAS A NEED.

AGAIN, IF THAT NEED IS BEING WITH MET BY JUDGE JONES, THEN I'M HAPPY FOR THE CITIZENS OF LEON COUNTY THAT THAT'S APPROPRIATE IF IT IS THE APPROPRIATE CASE TO BE MADE.

I KNOW JUDGE JONES HAS ENDORSEMENTS BY ATTORNEYS LIKE BEN CRUMP, AND IF THAT'S WHAT THE LITMUS TEST IS, THAT'S GREAT.

AGAIN -- >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> JUDGE JONES, YOU GET TO CLOSE US OUT.

>> THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR HAVING US.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT AS A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, IT IS -- I'VE BEEN HUMBLED AND HONORED TO SERVE AS YOUR LEON COUNTY JUDGE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

I HAVE SHOWN THAT I CAN BE FAIR AND COMPASSIONATE, AND THAT IS EDED BY THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT ME -- EVIDENCED BY THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT ME IN THIS CASE.

I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF LOCAL SUPPORT WHICH I AM HUMBLED BY EVERY TIME I SEE IT AND HEAR IT.

I'M STARTING TO HEAR PEOPLE TELL ME NOW, I VOTED FOR YOU.

THEY'VE RECEIVED THEIR MAIL-IN BALLOT, AND THEY'VE CAST THEIR BALLOT ALREADY.

I NEVER WANTED TO BE A POLITICIAN.

I NEVER BABBITTED TO DO THAT AS PART OF -- NEVER WANTED TO DO THAT AS PART OF THIS ROLE.

THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE BIT, IT'S TAKEN GETTING USED TO.

BUT BEING A JUDGE HAS BEEN GREATEST HONOR OF MY CAREER SERVING THE PEOPLE OF LEON COUNTY HAS BEEN THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY CAREER.

SO I JUST ASK YOU TO, PLEASE, VOTE FOR ME AND LET ME CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE GREAT COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

>> FOLKS, THAT BRINGS US TO A SCREECHING HALT ON THIS PARTICULAR CANDIDATE FORUM ARE.

OUR THANKS TO THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TALLAHASSEE, W FSU PUBLIC MADE YA -- MEDIA AND THE CANDIDATES.

YOU CAN FIND A REPLAY OF THE FORUM ON OUR YouTUBE PAGES ALONG WITH TALLAHASSEE.COM AND WFSU.ORG.

THE RECORDED BROADCAST, THE AUDIO PORTION OF IT, WILL BE PLAYED TUESDAY, AUGUST 2ND, AT 11 IN THE MORNING ON WFSU 88.9 FM.

>> OUR NEXT LIVE WEB STREAM FORUM WILL BE WEDNESDAY, JULY 27TH, AT 1 P.M. AND AND IT WILL BE WITH THE POUR CANDIDATES FOR FLORIDA STATEHOUSE DISTRICT 8 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, LOU BERT BROWN -- [INAUDIBLE] GREGORY JAMES AND MARIE -- [INAUDIBLE] >> AND YOU CAN LOOK FOR OUR SPECIAL ELECTIONS SECTION OF THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT WITH INTERVIEWS WITH ALL THE CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOTS INCLUDING THESE TWO WHICH WILL BE PRINTED AND INSERTED IN THE SUNDAY, AUGUST 7TH, EDITION.

YOU CAN ALSO STAY WITH TALLAHASSEE.COM FOR ALL THE LATEST ELECTION NEWS.

WE ALSO INVITE YOUR QUESTIONS, AND WE USE THEM.

REALLY EASY TO SEND QUESTIONS FOR ANY OF THESE FORARE RUMS TO NEWS@-- FORUMS TO NEWS@TALLAHASSEE.COM.

BEYOND THAT, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CANDIDATES.

I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO WERE WATCHING TODAY AND THE EXCELLENT CREW HERE AT THE WFSU STUDIOS.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

HAVE A GREAT CAY.

♪ PLEASURE.

♪ ♪